Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-01-13


adopted IL will require heavy appropria-
tions for implements and machinery, and
for a working capital for material. Again
should this plan be pursued, IL is not easy
to see how competition with free labor
will be removed or much reduced. Nor
will 1t be sound policy to employ them in
reproductive pursuits, because the sup
port of the prisoner would place a burden
upon those we would be glad to aid. That
the contract system is to be abandoned
sooner or later seems apparent, and just
what shall take its place is a question
challenging your best thought and wisest
action.
The state prison at Jackson asks for large
appropriations for improvements and re-
pairs. Its financial management has been
most excellent. It's requirements will be
largely governed by the policy to be pur-
sued in relation to convict labor. The
board OF corrections and charities call
for an entire revolution of the present
system of prison management. The tend
ency to the proposed plan will be to take
the management of the prison out of the
hands of the people and place it in the
hands of board. This the governor does
not believe to be wise policy. Following
out the same police recommendation is
also made that the construction and man
agement of all the jails in the state be taken
from the hands of the local authorities
and placed in the hands of one
supervisory board Such might prove
to be a good policy, but the governors
strong faith in the intelligence and virtue
of the people leads him to doubt the pro-
priety of the experiment.
Slowly but surely taxation increases,
and this is rendered the more burdensome
because with the great mass of taxpayers
the ability to pay diminishes. In many
instances the tax amounts to more than
the net income of the property taxed.
High taxes necessitate high rents and
higher interest, and in this way reacts
fhnCa xyhnca do T.
upon the assessment rolls. Such taxation
bears heavily upon agriculture The farm
er's property is all in sight and cannot
escape assessment 1t is no exaggeration
TO say that it requires twice as much of
the products of the farm to pay the aggre-
gate taxes as it did eight years ago. 1t is
duty owed to the people of the state to
use all just means, consistent with the
welfare of the state, to reduce the burdens
of government, and secondly, to revise the
tax laws so as to more equally adjust the
burdens.
In the interests Of economy the governor
urges the passage of a bill that will prevent
an appeal from q justice court to the cir
cult court when the judgment does not
exceed the sum of $40.
In the interests of decreasing criminals
1t is hoped that the law will be amended
so that the age of female infants consent
shall be increased from 10 years Of age to
at least IA. This subject is one attracting
try and in Europe. 1t is believed that the
change indicated would prevent many
from entering the paths of crime, yet even
should this fail in this respect, humanity
demands its enactment
Even school teachers and school boys
now go to their duties and lessons armed.
The custom of carrying concealed weap-
ons should be prohibited by the most
stringent legislation Prize-fghting, with
or without gloves, should be prevented by
more strict enactments. The full enforce
ment of the laws relating to the sale Of
Intoxicating drinks, especially to minors
and confirmed drunkards, would do much
to lessen crime and relieve overburdened
! taxation.
We have thirty circuit and superior
courts in the state. In each of these, at
| least "a jurors are summoned to appear at
! every term Of court. The jury system is
regarded as being one of the safeguards of
! liberty handed down to US from ancestors,
and any change here suggested is made in
| Difference to 1t. The constitution OF Mich
igan wisely, in my opinion, provides that
! 1.-The legislature may authorize trial by a
| jury of less number than twelve men,
I The plan OF reducing the number TO six
has been tested in justice courts with such
! satisfaction that there is no general de-
mand for an increase in the number re-
! quired. With our general education, GER
! talnly six men are as competent now to
| try cases, civil and criminal, in our circuit
courts, as were twelve men when the great
necessity OF trial by jury gave birth to
| our present system.
| Wisely has provision been made to collect
| by specific tax payable into the state
treasury, the assessments to be made upon
railroads and other branches of industry
where local taxation would lead to serious
results. But though the system be wise,
IL would seem that the inequality of the
| burdens resting upon the two classes of
property, viz: that subject to specific and
that liable to local taxation, calls for re-
adjustment by legislation. 1t is clearly
demonstrated that property paying spe
cific tax has increased in value as rapidly as
other property subject to local taxation,
but there has not been a corresponding in
crease in the specific taxes collected.
Complaint is also justly made that some
classes of personal property escape their
share of public burdens. This inequality
seems to arise from two causes; one that
the laws regulating the official conduct of
assessing officers is not sufficiently strin
gent, and the other being an absence OF
provisions compelling a fnll and just state
ment of certain classes Of personal prop
erty by its owners.
There has accumulated surplus in the
hands of the trustees of the asylums
as follows: In the hands of the treasurer
Of the Michigan asylum, s4s,397 81, and in
thehands of the treasurer of the
Eastern asylum, s4l,S25,94. Some
place this surplus in the state treasury
the source from which most of it has beer
drawn.
In some localities where fish have beer
planted, while yet small and worthless fol
food, they have been caught out and used
for fertilzing purposes. In order to rear
the benefit of the fish commission, il is rec
commended that to them be given authority
to appoint wardens whose duties it shall
be to watch and guard the deposits of fish
! w hon mn al tlxr and
that the fish interests be required to pay
the expense incurred in propagation anC
protection. Under the present law the an
nual expense is not far from $4,000. The
appointment OF wardens will add to thii
expense, and trust that the pc wers of the
board will be enlarged, and that provisions
be made for placing charge upon seines
sufficient to defray expenses.
The business and property OF the rail.
roads Of the state have more than doubled
in IL years, but with this increase in miles
of road, property and business, there has
been no increase in the force provided for
railroad commission. The railroad engin
GERS respectfully ask for the appointment
of an assistant, who shall be an expert, ant
shall be appointed jim the same manner
as the deputy railroad commissioner, and
that his duties shall be the thorough ex
animation of switches, bridges, etc. They
believe this will add an additional safe
guard to- the property, as well a.
| bbo ilNcs VI tutulselNts uuu Tie mlillOnS Oh
passengers annually intrusted to their
vigilance and fidelity.
The relation between capital and labor
10 attracting widespread..attentio and the
best thought of the nation. DISCONTINUED
labor renders capital cautious and timid
and this timidity reacts and Injuries labor
The first duty of law is to guard aud pro
tect humanity. To do this the home and
other. property interests must be pro
tected. Every possible opportunity should
be afforded and encouragement extended
maker can devise. 1t will give the govern
or great pleasure to cooperate with the
legislature in devising means that will aid